The Chronicle of the Canons Regular of Mount St. Agnes eBook

After this he accepted the dispensation of God towards
him, namely, to be still and attend to his heavenly
calling, and also following herein the example of
Florentius, to gather together into his own house at
Almelo certain Clerks and Lay folk, with whom he lived
for many years under due discipline. Moreover,
lest they who were so gathered together should be
scattered abroad after his death, he began to think
of a fit place where they might serve God together,
and by His help he found such a place as he desired
for the founding of a monastery, and here those Brothers
whom he had formerly invested in an humble manner
were placed. To them he distributed gifts out
of his own substance, namely, gold and silver, books
and other things for their use, for building and for
needful expenses. As regardeth the foundation
of this monastery see above, under the year of the
Lord 1394. He was buried in his own church at
Almelo, where he had governed his people for many
years, and he left a good memorial among the devout
whom he cherished and loved as a father. On a
time when I attended the school at Deventer, I fell
sick, and with such care did he tend me that by the
mercy of God a like sickness fell not upon me for
many years after.

In the same year, on the Feast day of St. Gregory
the Pope, the building of our church was begun by
brother John of Kempen, the first Prior.

CHAPTER XIII.

Of the death of the Priest Amilius that succeeded
Florentius at Deventer.

In the year of the Lord 1404, on the day before the
Feast of St. Barnabas the Apostle, Amilius the Priest
died at Deventer; he was a mighty zealot for souls,
kindly in feeding the poor, austere to himself, compassionate
to the sick, comfortable to the troubled, and he was
about thirty-two years of age.

He came from the parts of Geldria near Tyele, and
coming to Deventer he attended school there for a
while, but when he was amongst the foremost of the
students he left the school and clave to Florentius,
for it was his desire to serve God. Afterward
Florentius procured his promotion to the priesthood,
and before his death placed him over the whole congregation,
likewise he did commit to his charge the governance
of the House as being his beloved disciple.
This burden that was laid upon him Amilius undertook
with much sorrow, and though he was not minded to
disobey the command of so great a Father, yet with
weeping eyes, lamentation and sighing, he professed
himself unworthy of this preferment; likewise in his
secret prayer he mourned bitterly, for he desired
rather to have the tasks of the kitchen laid upon him
than to be preferred to the honoured post of governing
men. For in the kitchen he ever rejoiced in
his servitude, being safer therein, and having a good
conscience; but in the other office a thousand dangers
met him, bringing no small care with them. Yet
God did not long delay to answer the prayers and sighs